U.S. patent number 7,284,607 [Application Number 10/905,329] was granted by the patent office on 2007-10-23 for system and technique for orienting and positioning a lateral string in a multilateral system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Schlumberger Technology Corporation. Invention is credited to Carlos Araque, Christine L. Cano, Robert Scott Neves, Martin Prado, John R. Whitsitt.
United States Patent |
7,284,607 |
Araque , et al. |
October 23, 2007 |
System and technique for orienting and positioning a lateral string
in a multilateral system
Abstract
A technique that is usable with a subterranean well that has a
first string that lines a borehole includes running a second string
into the well and engaging a deflecting face of a deflector to
deflect the second string into a window of the first string. The
technique includes performing at least one of positioning the
second string and orienting the second string using a profile on
the deflector downhole of the deflecting face.
Inventors: |
Araque; Carlos (Sugar Land,
TX), Whitsitt; John R. (Houston, TX), Prado; Martin
(Houston, TX), Neves; Robert Scott (Houston, TX), Cano;
Christine L. (Houston, TX) |
Assignee: |
Schlumberger Technology
Corporation (Sugar Land, TX)
|
Family
ID: |
35841091 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/905,329 |
Filed: |
December 28, 2004 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20060137874 A1 |
Jun 29, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
166/255.3;
166/313; 166/117.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B
47/09 (20130101); E21B 47/024 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E21B
23/00 (20060101); E21B 31/14 (20060101); E21B
43/12 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;166/255.3,313,117.5,117.6,241.6,50,382,378,380 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Thompson; Kenneth
Assistant Examiner: Andrews; David
Attorney, Agent or Firm: White; Bryan L. McEnaney; Kevin P.
Gaudier; Dale V.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method usable with a well, the well having a first string that
lines a first borehole, the method comprising: running a liner
string into the well to line a lateral borehole that extends from
the first borehole; engaging a deflecting surface of a deflector to
deflect the liner string into a window of the first string; and
engaging a first profile of the liner string with a second profile
on the deflector below the deflecting face to perform at least one
of positioning the liner string and orienting the liner string.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second profile orients the
liner string relative to the first borehole.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second profile on the
deflector orients a window of the liner string with respect to the
first borehole.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of engaging the first
profile on the liner string with the second profile on the
deflector comprises: engaging a key profile on one of the deflector
and the liner string with a keyway profile on the other of the
liner string and the deflector.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second profile orients an
azimuthal position of the liner string.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second profile orients the
liner string so that a window of the liner string is generally
aligned with a passageway through the deflector.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second profile positions the
liner string so that a liner window is at a predetermined location
downhole.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of performing comprises:
using a gyro to orient the liner string with respect to the
profile; subsequently lowering the liner string; and continue
lowering the liner string to engage the profile.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: using an offset of
weight caused by the liner string engaging the second profile to
indicate at least one of a proper orientation and a proper position
of the liner string at the surface of the well.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of performing comprises:
lowering the liner string downhole; detecting whether the liner
string has passed the second profile; detecting whether the liner
string has been engaged by the second profile; in response to
detecting whether the liner string has passed the second profile,
raising the liner string and rotating the liner string; and in
response to determining whether the liner string has been engaged
by the second profile, determining that at least one of a proper
orientation and a proper position of the liner string has
occurred.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first string comprises a
parent casing string.
12. An apparatus usable with a well having a first string
comprising: a liner string adapted to extend inside the first
string through a window in the first string; and a first profile
attached to the liner string and adapted to engage a second profile
of a deflector located downhole of a deflecting face of the
deflector to do at least one of orient the liner string and
position the liner string.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first profile orients a
window in the liner string with respect to a borehole lined by the
first string.
14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first profile comprises
a key profile, the second profile comprises a keyway profile and
the key profile is adapted to engage the keyway profile.
15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first profile is adapted
to engage the second profile to place the liner string at a
predetermined azimuthal position.
16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first profile is adapted
to engage the second profile to place a window of the liner string
at a predetermined depth.
17. A tubing deflector usable with a well that includes a first
string, the tubing deflector comprising: a deflecting surface
adapted to deflect a second string into a window of the first
string; and a profile located below the deflecting surface and
adapted to do at least one of orient the second string and position
the second string, the profile being exposed by the window such
that the profile is otherwise covered by a wall of the first string
in the absence of the window.
18. The tubing deflector of claim 17, wherein the profile orients a
window in the second string with a borehole lined by the first
string.
19. The tubing deflector of claim 17, wherein the profile comprises
a keyway profile to engage a key profile on the second string.
20. The tubing deflector of claim 17, wherein the profile comprises
a guide to accept an azimuthal range of a mating profile of the
second string and selectively rotate the second string to a
predetermined azimuthal position.
21. The tubing deflector of claim 17, wherein the deflecting
surface comprises a portion of a body of the deflector, the
deflector further comprising a passageway that is adapted to align
with a window in the second string.
22. The tubing deflector of claim 17, wherein the first string
comprises a parent casing string and the second string comprises a
liner string.
23. A system usable with a well, comprising: a casing string having
a window; a liner string adapted to extend inside the casing
string; a first profile attached to the liner string; and a
deflector comprising a deflecting face to deflect the liner string
into the window of the casing string and comprising a second
profile downhole of the deflecting face to mate with the first
profile to do at least one of orient the liner string and position
the liner string.
24. The system of claim 23, wherein the mating of the first profile
and the second profile orients at least an azimuthal position of
the liner string.
25. The system of claim 23, wherein the mating of the first profile
and the second profile orients at least a window of the liner
string with respect to a borehole lined by the casing string.
26. The system of claim 23, wherein the deflecting surface
comprises a guide to accept a range of azimuthal positions to
orient the liner string in a predetermined azimuthal position.
27. The system of claim 23, wherein the first profile and the
second profile orient a window of the liner string with respect to
a borehole lined by the casing string and located below the window
of the second string.
28. The system of claim 23, wherein the first profile comprises a
key profile, and the second profile comprises a keyway profile
adapted to engage the key profile to orient the liner string.
29. A method usable with a well, comprising: forming a first
profile on a first string that is adapted to be deflected by a
deflecting face of a deflector into a window of a second string,
the forming including forming the first profile to engage a second
profile of the deflector located downhole of the deflecting face to
do at least one of orient and position the first string; and
positioning the second profile such that the second profile is in
closer alignment to a longitudinal axis of the second string than a
path that follows the deflecting face of the deflector.
30. The method of claim 29, further comprising: positioning the
profile on the first string so that a window of the first string is
oriented with respect to a borehole lined by the second string.
31. The method of claim 29, further comprising: forming a key
profile on the first string to engage a keyway profile of the
deflector.
32. A method usable with a well, comprising: forming a deflecting
surface on a deflector to deflect a liner string into a window of a
second string; and forming a first profile on the deflector
downhole of the deflecting surface to engage a second profile of
the liner string to orient the liner string.
33. The method of claim 32, further comprising: positioning the
first profile to orient a window of the liner string with respect
to a borehole lined by the second string.
34. The method of claim 32, further comprising: forming the first
profile to be a keyway profile to engage the second profile.
35. The method of claim 32, further comprising: forming a guide on
the deflector to accept an azimuthal range and selectively rotate
the liner string to a predetermined azimuthal position.
Description
BACKGROUND
The invention generally relates to a system and technique for
orienting and positioning a lateral string in a multi-lateral
system.
A multi-lateral well includes a parent wellbore and one or more
lateral wellbores that extend from the parent wellbore. Quite
often, a main parent casing string lines the parent wellbore; and
liner string(s) hang from the parent casing string and extend from
the parent wellbore into the lateral wellbore(s).
Conventionally, for purposes of creating a multi-lateral well, the
parent wellbore is first drilled and then cased with a casing
string. A particular lateral wellbore may then be established by
first milling a window (called a "parent casing window") out of the
wall of the parent casing string. The parent casing window forms
the entry point of the lateral wellbore from the parent wellbore.
After the lateral wellbore is drilled, a lateral liner string is
run downhole so that the liner string hangs from the parent casing
string and extends into the lateral wellbore. Depending on the
particular multi-lateral system, the liner string may be cemented
in place inside the parent casing string and/or may be sealed to
the parent casing string.
It is often desirable to position the depth and orient the azimuth
of the liner string with respect to the parent wellbore. For
example, the liner string may have a window (called a "liner
window") that needs to be positioned at the correct depth and
properly oriented for purposes of, for example, permitting fluid
communication between the central passageway of the liner string
and the central passageway of the parent casing string.
Furthermore, the liner window when properly positioned and oriented
may be used to provide mechanical access to the parent wellbore
beneath the liner string window. This access may be used for
purposes of an intervention into this part of the parent
wellbore.
Conventional systems to orient the liner string include features
that are located on the parent casing window. However, many such
systems have typically been somewhat unreliable.
Thus, there is a continuing need for better ways to orient a
lateral string with respect to a parent wellbore.
SUMMARY
In an embodiment of the invention, a method that is usable with a
subterranean well that has a first string that lines a borehole
includes running a second string into the well and engaging a
deflecting face on a deflector to deflect the second string through
a window of the first string. The technique includes performing at
least one of positioning the second string and orienting the second
string using a profile on the deflector downhole of the deflecting
face.
Advantages and other features of the invention will become apparent
from the following description, drawing and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a subterranean well according to
an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a more detailed view of a portion of the well of FIG. 1
according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 3 and 4 are flow diagrams depicting techniques to run a
lateral liner string into a lateral wellbore according to different
embodiments of the invention.
FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the tubing deflector of FIGS. 1
and 2 according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5
according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view depicting initial engagement of
the liner string with the tubing deflector according to an
embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment 10 of a multi-lateral
subterranean well in accordance with the invention includes a
tubular string 20 that extends into a parent wellbore that is lined
by a parent casing string 15. The string 20 includes a packer 24
(shown in the set position) from which hangs a tubular liner string
30. The liner string 30 extends through a milled casing window 38
of the parent casing string 15 and into a lateral wellbore 17 of
the well 10.
It is noted that the well 10 that is depicted in FIG. 1 is
simplified for clarifying the following description. Thus, the well
10 may have other and different features in other embodiments of
the invention. For example, in other embodiments of the invention,
a well may include multiple lateral wellbores and liner
strings.
For purposes of routing the liner string 30 into the lateral
wellbore 17, the well 10 includes a tubular, tubing string
deflector (herein called the "deflector 40"), that is held in place
generally concentric to the casing string 15 by means (an indexing
casing coupler or a whipstock packer, as examples) known to those
skilled in the art and is located beneath the casing window 38. The
deflector 40 includes a generally inclined deflecting face 42 that
is sloped at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the
parent wellbore to deflect the liner string 30 (that generally
follows the longitudinal axis of the parent wellbore before
contacting the deflecting face 42) into the lateral wellbore 17, as
depicted in FIG. 1.
As also depicted in FIG. 1, in some embodiments of the invention,
the liner string 30 includes a liner window 34, a window that is
formed in the wall of the liner string 30 (before the liner string
30 is run downhole, for example) so that when position at the
appropriate depth and properly oriented, the liner window 34
provides access (via a longitudinal passageway 41 of the deflector
40) to the portion of the parent wellbore located beneath the
window 34. Thus, without the window 34, access to and fluid
communication with the parent wellbore below the window 34 is
prevented.
As further described below, in some embodiments of the invention, a
profile is formed on the deflector 40 to ensure proper positioning
of the liner string 30 (to the appropriate depth) and proper
orientation of the liner string 30 (at the appropriate azimuth) so
that 1.) the liner window 34 aligns with the portion of the parent
wellbore beneath the window 34 (and also faces the passageway 41 of
the deflector 40); and 2.) the liner window 34 is located above the
passageway 41. This profile of the deflector 40 mates with a
corresponding profile of the liner string 30 to, when the profiles
engage, provide a positive indication (via a partial weight
displacement of the string 20) at the surface of the proper depth
and azimuth of the liner string 30 (and liner window 34).
Thus, as further described below, engagement of the two profiles is
detectable at the surface of the well 10 to indicate that the liner
string 30 is at the proper depth and azimuthal orientation. As a
more specific example, in some embodiments of the invention, the
deflector 40 includes a keyway profile that is constructed to
receive a corresponding key profile of the liner string 30 when the
liner string 30 has the appropriate depth and azimuthal
orientation.
In some embodiments of the invention, the keyway profile of the
deflector 40 is located below the deflecting face 42 so that when
the deflector 40 is mounted to the inside of the casing string 15
(in a separate run into the well, for example), the casing window
38 exposes the keyway profile to the lateral wellbore 17. The
keyway profile is designed to provide a tracking range to, for a
predefined range of potential azimuthal positions of the liner
string 30, rotate the liner string 30 into the proper final
azimuthal position in which the liner window 34 is directed
downhole and toward the opening of the passageway 41. For purposes
of coarsely adjusting the azimuth of the liner string 30 so that
the key profile of the string 30 is within this tracking range, the
string 20 may include a gyro 39, in some embodiments of the
invention.
For example, as depicted in FIG. 1 the gyro 39 may be located near
the liner window 34 (in some embodiments of the invention) for
purposes of providing feedback (via a telemetry path (not shown))
to the surface of the well 10 regarding the azimuth of the liner
string 30. Therefore, by rotating the liner string 30 in accordance
with the feedback that is provided by the gyro 39, the liner string
30 may be rotated to a position near its final proper azimuthal
position, as the deflector's keyway profile (via its engagement
with the key profile of the liner string 30) performs the fine
rotational adjustment of the liner string 30 to place the liner
string 30 at the final proper azimuthal position. At the conclusion
of this fine rotational adjustment, the key and keyway profiles
mate to offset at least some weight on the string 20 so that an
operator at the surface of the well can detect the engagement. The
packer 24 may then be set to hang the liner string 30, in some
embodiments of the invention.
In other embodiments of the invention, the coarse azimuthal
positioning of the liner string 30 is established by a trial and
error tactic in that the liner string 30 may be incrementally
rotated and then lowered to see if engagement between the key and
keyway profiles occur (as indicated by the partial weight
displacement of the string 20); and if not, the liner string 30 is
pulled back uphole and rotated by another incremental adjustment.
Therefore, this process is repeated until the partial weight
displacement is detected at the surface of the well 10.
In some embodiments of the invention, to facilitate azimuthal
orientation of the liner string 30, the liner string 30 includes a
swivel clutch 33, a device that decouples rotation of an upper
portion 28 of the liner string 30 from a lower portion 32 portion
of the string 30. Thus, due to the clutch 33, the upper portion 28
of the liner string 30 may be rotated without rotating the lower
portion 32 to facilitate azimuthal orientation of the liner string
30.
FIG. 2 depicts a more detailed section 50 (see FIG. 1) of the well
10. Referring to FIG. 2, as shown, in some embodiments of the
invention, the deflector 40 includes a keyway profile 60 that is
constructed to receive and mate with a corresponding key profile 70
of the liner string 30 when the liner string 30 is in its proper
final azimuthal and depth positions. The keyway 60 and key 70
profiles may be switched, in other embodiments of the invention, so
that the keyway profile 60 is located on the liner string 30, and
the key profile 70 is located on the deflector 40. Thus, many
variations are possible and are within the scope of the appended
claims.
Although specific keyway 60 and key 70 profiles are depicted in
FIG. 2, it is noted that these profiles are for purposes of example
only to illustrate one out of many possible embodiments of the
invention. For the embodiment that is depicted in FIG. 2, the
keyway profile 60 includes a slot 61 that is constructed to receive
a corresponding radial extension 74 of the key profile 70 when the
profiles 60 and 70 mate. Furthermore, as depicted in FIG. 2, the
keyway profile 60 may include a radial extension 62 that supports a
corresponding radial extension 72 (of the key profile 70) that
extends above the extension 62 when the profile 60 and 70 mate. The
keyway profile 60 may include another radial extension 63 that
extends below the radial extension 72 (of the key profile 70). The
keyway 60 and key 70 profiles are also illustrated in a perspective
view of the deflector 40 in FIG. 5.
Referring to FIG. 3, in some embodiments of the invention, a
technique 100 may be used to run a liner string, such as the liner
string 30, downhole. Referring to FIG. 3, the technique 100
includes lowering (block 102) the liner string 30 downhole and
determining (block 104) whether the liner string 30 is near the
deflector 40. If not, then the lowering continues, as depicted in
block 102.
When the liner string is near the deflector 40 (as indicated by the
deployed length of the string 20, for example), then the technique
100 includes using a downhole survey mechanism (i.e., an azimuth
orientation device) (such as the gyro 39 of FIG. 1) to rotate the
liner string 30 to orient an upper section of the liner string 30
with respect to a milled casing window, as depicted in block 106.
Therefore, referring to FIG. 1 in conjunction with FIG. 3, this
rotation may include rotating the upper section 28 of the liner
string 30 with respect to the lower section 32. The bifurcated
rotation is permitted due to the swivel clutch 33. Referring to
FIG. 3, after this rotation, the liner string 30 is lowered (block
108) and a determination is made (diamond 110) whether engagement
between the mating profiles of the liner string 30 and deflector 40
have occurred. If so, then the technique 100 ends. Otherwise, the
liner string continues to be lowered downhole pursuant to block
108.
Alternatively, in some embodiments of the invention, the liner
string 30 may not include an azimuth orientation device, such as a
gyro. Instead, a trial and error technique may be used to orient
the liner string 30 with respect to the parent borehole. More
specifically, FIG. 4 depicts another technique 130 for running a
liner string downhole. Referring to FIG. 4, pursuant to the
technique 130, the liner string is lowered downhole (block 132) and
a determination is made (diamond 134) whether engagement has
occurred between the key and keyway profiles of the liner string
and deflector. If so, then the technique 130 ends, as proper
azimuthal orientation and depth positioning of the liner string has
occurred. Otherwise, a determination is made (diamond 136) whether
the key profile of the liner string is past the keyway profile of
the deflector, as depicted in diamond 136. This may be determined
by, for example, monitoring the length of the string that is used
to position the liner string. If the liner string has not been
lowered past the profile, then the liner string is continued to be
run downhole, pursuant to block 132.
If the liner string has been run past the mating profile, then the
liner string is picked up to a location above the deflector, as
depicted in block 138. After this pickup, the upper section of the
liner string is incrementally rotated (block 140) and the trial and
error technique continues by lowering the liner string downhole
pursuant to block 132. Eventually, the liner string has the proper
azimuthal orientation and depth so that the key and keyway profiles
engage, as indicated by partial weight displacement that is
detectable at the surface of the well.
FIG. 5 depicts a top perspective view of the tubing deflector 40,
in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. Referring to
FIG. 5, in some embodiments of the invention, the deflector 40 may
be hollow (and thus, include the longitudinal passageway 41), and
the deflecting face 42 may present an approximate U-shaped channel
along about its longitudinal axis to guide the key profile of the
liner string toward a narrowed region 160 that coincides with a
longitudinal axis 150 (of the deflector 40). The longitudinal axis
150, in turn, coincides with the keyway profile 60 of the deflector
40. Referring also to FIG. 6 (depicting a cross-section of the
deflecting face 42 along line 6-6 of FIG. 5), in some embodiments
of the invention, the deflecting face 42 may include surfaces 162
and 164 that may be generally level, as depicted in FIG. 6 at the
uphole end of the deflecting force 42 and increasingly slanted
toward the longitudinal axis 150 at the downhole end of the
deflecting face 42. It is noted that in some embodiments of the
invention, the surfaces 162 and 164 may not be inclined towards the
longitudinal axis 150. The surfaces 162 and 164 follow the
perimeter of the channel around the entry of the passageway 41 of
the deflecting face 42 to meet at the longitudinal axis 150 (at
narrowed region 160) to guide the key profile 70 (see FIG. 2) of
the liner string 30 toward the keyway profile 60.
As a more specific example, FIG. 7 depicts the cross section of the
deflector 40 shown in FIG. 6, along with a cross-sectional view of
the liner string 30 during the initial engagement between the key
profile 70 of the liner string 30 and the deflecting face 42 of the
deflector 40. As depicted in FIG. 7, the radial extension 74 of the
key profile 70 extends into the open groove of the face 42. As also
depicted in FIG. 7, separation between the inclined faces 162 and
164 provides a tracking range 180 that permits capture of the key
profile 70 over a predetermined azimuthal range and guidance of the
key profile 70 toward the longitudinal axis 150 and into the keyway
profile 60.
While the present invention has been described with respect to a
limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having the
benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate numerous modifications
and variations therefrom. It is intended that the appended claims
cover all such modifications and variations as fall within the true
spirit and scope of this present invention.
* * * * *